"Close, but no cigar" is an idiom that means someone was very close to achieving something, but ultimately fell short. It's often used to describe a situation where someone almost succeeded, but didn't quite make it.
The origin of this idiom is unclear, but it's believed to have originated in the United States in the late 19th or early 20th century when cigars were often given out as prizes at carnivals and fairs. If someone came close to winning a game or competition, they might be told they were "close, but no cigar" because they didn't win the prize.
For example, if a student got a 90% on a test, but needed a 95% to get an A, you could say "close, but no cigar." Or if a sports team lost a game by just one point, you could say "they were close, but no cigar."
Overall, "close, but no cigar" is a fun and informal way to express disappointment or acknowledge someone's effort, while also recognizing that they didn't quite achieve their goal.
• My sister came close to winning the race, but close, but no cigar.
• I almost caught the ball, but close, but no cigar.
• He was just one point away from passing the exam, but close, but no cigar.
• The company came close to reaching its sales target, but they fell short, so close, but no cigar.
• The team played well and almost won the championship, but they lost the final game, so close, but no cigar.
• I thought I had found the perfect apartment, but it was too expensive, so close, but no cigar.